A recent debate about the current topical issue of tax avoidance on the R4 Today programme got me thinking about the role our values play, along with our skills, interests and motivators, when considering our future career-direction.

The 2 interviewees, Mary Monfries, head of tax at PwC, and Richard Murphy, adviser to the Tax Justice Network, were both passionate about the work they did. They shared very similar skills, judging from their performance in front of the microphone – excellent communication skills, ability to think on their feet, problem solving, attention to detail, initiative, to name a few. And both held diametrically opposed views. You can listen to the debate yourself (scroll down to 8.37), and make your own mind up where you stand on this issue.

Whatever your stance, this interview illustrates the importance of having a good fit for your values and personal motivators in whatever work you choose to do. Just having the right skills to do a job is not enough. Both Mary and Richard shared some of the same skills, but I would hazard a guess that neither would like to utilize those skills within the other’s organisation!

So when you’re making decisions about the type of work you do, and the organisation you do it for – make sure it chimes with your values and motivators as well as your skills – otherwise you are unlikely to be very happy in your work, even if you’ve got the ability to do it. To help you get started thinking about your own values in relation to your career, play the Values Auction via the self-knowledge section of Sort-It – online career inspiration from the Careers Group, London – a fun way to really test your value system!